Garson　uttered　an　ejaculation　of　disgust。
  〃He　pays　half　a　million　dollars　for　a　set　of　rugs！〃　There　was　a　note　of　fiercest　bitterness　come　into　his　voice　as　he　sarcastically　concluded：　〃And　they　wonder　at　crime！〃
  Griggs　went　on　with　his　account。
  〃About　a　month　ago；　the　things　I　was　telling　you　of　were　hung　in　the　library　of　a　millionaire　in　this　city。〃　　He　hitched　his　chair　a　little　closer　to　the　desk；　and　leaned　forward；　lowering　his　voice　almost　to　a　whisper　as　he　stated　his　plan。
  〃Let's　go　after　them。　　They　were　smuggled；　mind　you；　and　no　matter　what　happens；　he　can't　squeal。　　What　do　you　say？〃
  Garson　shot　a　piercing　glance　at　Mary。
  〃It's　up　to　her；〃　he　said。　　Griggs　regarded　Mary　eagerly；　as　she　sat　with　eyes　downcast。　　Then；　after　a　little　interval　had　elapsed　in　silence；　he　spoke　interrogatively：
  〃Well？〃
  Mary　shook　her　head　decisively。　　〃It's　out　of　our　line；〃　she　declared。
  Griggs　would　have　argued　the　matter。　　〃I　don't　see　any　easier　way　to　get　half　a　million；〃　he　said　aggressively。
  Mary；　however；　was　unimpressed。
  〃If　it　were　fifty　millions；　it　would　make　no　difference。　It's　against　the　law。〃
  〃Oh；　I　know　all　that；　of　course；〃　Griggs　returned　impatiently。　　〃But　if　you　can〃
  Mary　interrupted　him　in　a　tone　of　finality。
  〃My　friends　and　I　never　do　anything　that's　illegal！　Thank　you　for　coming　to　us；　Mr。　Griggs；　but　we　can't　go　in；　and　there's　an　end　of　the　matter。〃
  〃But　wait　a　minute；〃　English　Eddie　expostulated；　〃you　see　this　chap；　Gilder；　is〃
  Mary's　manner　changed　from　indifference　to　sudden　keen　interest。
  〃Gilder？〃　　she　exclaimed；　questioningly。
  〃Yes。　　You　know　who　he　is；〃　Griggs　answered；　〃the　drygoods　man。〃
  Garson　in　his　turn　showed　a　new　excitement　as　he　bent　toward　Mary。
  〃Why；　it's　old　Gilder；　the　man　you〃
  Mary；　however；　had　regained　her　self…control；　for　a　moment　rudely　shaken；　and　now　her　voice　was　tranquil　again　as　she　replied：
  〃I　know。　　But；　just　the　same；　it's　illegal；　and　I　won't　touch　it。　　That's　all　there　is　to　it。〃
  Griggs　was　dismayed。
  〃But　half　a　million！〃　he　exclaimed；　disconsolately。　〃There's　a　stake　worth　playing　for。　　Think　of　it！〃　He　turned　pleadingly　to　Garson。　　〃Half　a　million；　Joe！〃
  The　forger　repeated　the　words　with　an　inflection　that　was　gloating。
  〃Half　a　million！〃
  〃And　it's　the　softest　thing　you　ever　saw。〃
  The　telephone　at　the　desk　rang；　and　Mary　spoke　into　it　for　a　moment；　then　rose　and　excused　herself　to　resume　the　conversation　over　the　wire　more　privately　in　the　booth。　　The　instant　she　was　out　of　the　room；　Griggs　turned　to　Garson　anxiously。
  〃It's　a　cinch；　Joe；〃　he　pleaded。　　〃I've　got　a　plan　of　the　house。〃　　He　drew　a　paper　from　his　breast…pocket；　and　handed　it　to　the　forger；　who　seized　it　avidly　and　studied　it　with　intent；　avaricious　eyes。
  〃It　looks　easy；〃　Garson　agreed；　as　he　gave　back　the　paper。
  〃It　is　easy；〃　Griggs　reiterated。　　〃What　do　you　say？〃
  Garson　shook　his　head　in　refusal；　but　there　was　no　conviction　in　the　act。
  〃I　promised　Mary　never　to〃
  Griggs　broke　in　on　him。
  〃But　a　chance　like　this！　Anyhow；　come　around　to　the　back　room　at　Blinkey's　to…night；　and　we'll　have　a　talk。　　Will　you？〃
  〃What　time？〃　　Garson　asked　hesitatingly；　tempted。
  〃Make　it　early；　say　nine；〃　was　the　answer。　　〃Will　you？〃
  〃I'll　come；〃　Garson　replied；　half…guiltily。　　And　in　the　same　moment　Mary　reentered。
  Griggs　rose　and　spoke　with　an　air　of　regret。
  〃It's　'follow　the　leader；'　〃　he　said；　〃and　since　you　are　against　it；　that　settles　it。〃
  〃Yes；　I'm　against　it；〃　Mary　said；　firmly。
  〃I'm　sorry；〃　English　Eddie　rejoined。　　〃But　we　must　all　play　the　game　as　we　see　it。。。。　Well；　that　was　the　business　I　was　after；　and；　as　it's　finished；　why；　good…afternoon；　Miss　Turner。〃　　He　nodded　toward　Joe；　and　took　his　departure。
  Something　of　what　was　in　his　mind　was　revealed　in　Garson's　first　speech　after　Griggs's　going。
  〃That's　a　mighty　big　stake　he's　playing　for。〃
  〃And　a　big　chance　he's　taking！〃　Mary　retorted。　　〃No；　Joe；　we　don't　want　any　of　that。　　We'll　play　a　game　that's　safe　and　sure。〃
  The　words　recalled　to　the　forger　weird　forebodings　that　had　been　troubling　him　throughout　the　day。
  〃It's　sure　enough；〃　he　stated；　〃but　is　it　safe？〃
  Mary　looked　up　quickly。
  〃What　do　you　mean？〃　　she　demanded。
  Garson　walked　to　and　fro　nervously　as　he　answered。
  〃S'pose　the　bulls　get　tired　of　you　putting　it　over　on　'em　and　try　some　rough　work？〃
  Mary　smiled　carelessly。
  〃Don't　worry；　Joe；〃　she　advised。　　〃I　know　a　way　to　stop　it。〃
  〃Well；　so　far　as　that　goes；　so　do　I；〃　the　forger　said；　with　significant　emphasis。
  〃Just　what　do　you　mean　by　that？〃　　Mary　demanded；　suspiciously。
  〃For　rough　work；〃　he　said；　〃I　have　this。〃　　He　took　a　magazine　pistol　from　his　pocket。　　It　was　of　an　odd　shape；　with　a　barrel　longer　than　is　usual　and　a　bell…shaped　contrivance　attached　to　the　muzzle。
  〃No；　no；　Joe；〃　Mary　cried；　greatly　discomposed。　〃None　of　thatever！〃
  The　forger　smiled；　and　there　was　malignant　triumph　in　his　expression。
  〃Pooh！〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃Even　if　I　used　it；　they　would　never　get　on　to　me。　　See　this？〃　　He　pointed　at　the　strange　contrivance　on　the　muzzle。
  Mary's　curiosity　made　her　forget　for　a　moment　her　distaste。
  〃What　is　it？〃　　she　asked；　interestedly。　　〃I　have　never　seen　anything　like　that　before。〃
  〃Of　course　you　haven't；〃　Garson　answered　with　much　pride。　　〃I'm　the　first　man　in　the　business　to　get　one；　and　I'll　bet　on　it。　　I　keep　up　with　the　times。〃　　For　once；　he　was　revealing　that　fundamental　egotism　which　is　the　characteristic　of　all　his　kind。　　〃That's　one　of　the　new　Maxim　silencers；〃　he　continued。　　〃With　smokeless　powder　in　the　cartridges；　and　the　silencer　on；　I　can　make　a　shot　from　my　coat…pocket；　and　you　wouldn't　even　know　it　had　been　done。　　。　　。。　　And　I'm　some　shot；　believe　me。〃
  〃Impossible！〃　Mary　ejaculated。
  〃No；　it　ain't；〃　the　man　asserted。　　〃Here；　wait；　I'll　show　you。〃
  〃Good　gracious；　not　here！〃　Mary　exclaimed　in　alarm。　〃We　would　have　the　whole　place　down　on　us。〃
  Garson　chuckled。
  〃You　just　watch　that　dinky　little　vase　on　the　table　across　the　room　there。　　'Tain't　very　valuable；　is　it？〃
  〃No；〃　Mary　answered。
  In　the　same　instant；　while　still　her　eyes　were　on　the　vase；　it　fell　in　a　cascade　of　shivered　glass　to　the　table　and　floor。　　She　had　heard　no　sound；　she　saw　no　smoke。　Perhaps；　there　had　been　a　faintest　clicking　noise。　　She　was　not　sure。　　She　stared　dumfounded　for　a　few　seconds；　then　turned　her　bewildered　face　toward　Garson；　who　was　grinning　in　high　enjoyment。
  〃I　would'nt　have　believed　it　possible；〃　she　declared；　vastly　impressed。
  〃Neat　little　thing；　ain't　it？〃　　the　man　asked；　exultantly。
  〃Where　did　you　get　it？〃　　Mary　asked。
  〃In　Boston；　last　week。　　And　between　you　and　me；　Mary；　it's　the　only　model；　and　it　sure　is　a　corker　for　crime。〃
  The　sinister　association　of　ideas　made　Mary　shudder；　but　she　said　no　more。　　She　would　have　shuddered　again；　if　she　could　have　guessed　the　vital　part　that　pistol　was　destined　to　play。　　But　she　had　no　thought　of　any　actual　peril　to　come　from　it。　　She　might　have　thought　otherwise；　could　she　have　known　of　the　meeting　that　night　in　the　back　room　of　Blinkey's；　where　English　Eddie　and　Garson　sat　with　their　heads　close　together　over　a　table。
  〃A　chance　like　this；〃　Griggs　was　saying；　〃a　chance　that　will　make　a　fortune　for　all　of　us。〃
  〃It　sounds　good；〃　Garson　admitted；　wistfully。
  〃It　is　good；〃　the　other　declared　with　an　oath。　　〃Why；　if　this　goes　through；　we're　set　up　for　life。　　We　can　quit；　all　of　us。〃
  〃Yes；〃　Garson　agreed；　〃we　can　quit；　all　of　us。〃　　There　was　avarice　in　his　voice。
  The　tempter　was　sure　that　the　battle　was　won；　and　smiled　contentedly。
  〃Well；〃　he　urged；　〃what　do　you　say？〃
  〃How　would　we　split　it？〃　　It　was　plain　that　Garson　had　given　over　the　struggle　against　greed。　　After　all；　Mary　was　only　a　woman；　despite　her　cleverness；　and　with　all　a　woman's　timidity。　　Here　was　sport　for　men。
  〃Three　ways　would　be　right；〃　Griggs　answered。　　〃One　to　me；　one　to　you　and　one　to　be　divided　up　among　the　others。〃
  Garson　brought　his　fist　down　on　the　table　with　a　force　that　made　the　glasses　jingle。
  〃You're　on；〃　he　said；　strongly。
  〃Fine！〃　Griggs　declared；　and　the　two　men　shook　hands。　　〃Now；　I'll　get〃
  〃Get　nothing！〃　Garson　interrupted。　　〃I'll　get　my　own　men。　　Chicago　Red　is　in　town。　　So　is　Dacey；　with　perhaps　a　couple　of　others　of　the　right　sort。　　I'll　get　them　to　meet　you　at　Blinkey's　at　two　to…morrow　afternoon；　and；　if　it　looks　right；　we'll　turn　the　trick　to…morrow　night。〃
  〃That's　the　stuff；〃　Griggs　agreed；　greatly　pleased。
  But　a　sudden　shadow　fell　on　the　face　of　Garson。　　He　bent　closer　to　his　companion；　and　spoke　with　a　fierce　intensity　that　brooked　no　denial。
  〃She　must　never　know。〃
  Griggs　nodded　understandingly。
  〃Of　course；〃　he　answered。　　〃I　give　you　my　word　that　I'll　never　tell　her。　　And　you　know　you　can　trust　me；　Joe。〃
  〃Yes；〃　the　forger　replied　somberly；　〃I　know　I　can　trust　you。〃　　But　the　shadow　did　not　lift　from　his　face。
  CHAPTER　XIV。　A　WEDDING　ANNOUNCEMENT。
  Mary　dismissed　Garson　presently；　and　betook　herself　to　her　bedroom　for　a　nap。　　The　day　had　been　a　trying　one；　and；　though　her　superb　health　could　endure　much；　she　felt　that　both　prudence　and　comfort　required　that　she　should